Council CCTV cameras help with 274 arrests

Almost 3,000 incidents were captured by Canterbury City Council’s CCTV cameras last year.

Working mainly with the police, the camera operators who are based in the council’s Control Room 24 hours a day, seven days a week, helped with 274 arrests, provided support during 1,667 public order incidents and looked for 285 missing people throughout the district in 2017.

The team also helped the fire or ambulance services on 204 occasions and helped the emergency services deal with a number of other incidents such as supporting people attempting suicide or those vulnerable through the consumption of alcohol, drugs or suffering with health problems.

The evidence we collect is used by prosecutors in hundreds of cases every year.

In July this year the team dealt with 205 incidents throughout the district including 127 Public Order incidents, assisting in locating 27 missing persons and helping with 22 arrests.

Chairman of Canterbury City Council’s Community Committee Cllr Neil Baker said: “The district is home to thousands of residents, hundreds of businesses, is a thriving tourist destination not least because of the draw of Canterbury Cathedral and boasts three universities so there are huge numbers of people who expect us to help keep them safe, prevent crime and help Kent Police to catch criminals 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

“That’s why we are proud of our network of 330 cameras, 96 of which are public facing.

“Canterbury recently received the Purple Flag award for its thriving evening and night-time economy and for promoting the safety and wellbeing of its visitors and residents between the hours of 5pm and 5am. Our cameras play a vital role in this.”

The council’s Control Room also runs Lifeline. This is the council’s 24/7 personal alarm and monitoring service which looks after vulnerable and elderly people and currently has more than 3,500 customers. For information, visit lifeline.canterbury.gov.uk

It will also play a vital role in helping customers who will use the council’s 16 camera-controlled car parks as the new technology is rolled out at the end of this year and the start of next.